[Primary tumors of the renal pelvis and ureter: value of postoperative external radiotherapy (author's transl)].

Twenty-four observations of primary malignant tumors of the renal pelvis and ureter derived from epithelial cells were included in this study. Thirteen patients were treated by radiotherapy and surgery. In eleven patients, surgical excision was the only treatment. Although patients were not randomized there was no significant difference between the two groups concerning the following parameters: age distribution, sex ratio, stage of disease, histological grade, surgical procedure. The morbidity related to external radiotherapy (megavoltage technique, delivering 45 grays in 5 weeks) was low: only one patient developed retroperitoneal fibrosis. No patient was lost to follow-up. Local recurrence occurred in 54.5% of the patients treated by surgery alone, against 15.5% after combined radio-surgical therapy. The overall three-year survival rate was 35% without any significant difference between the two groups. The authors advocate postoperative high-voltage radiotherapy for non-disseminated carcinoma of the renal pelvis and ureter.